Lily Collage

Whenever Walgreens puts out one of those free 8x10 codes (like once every month or two) I always throw together a collage and have it sent to the Walgreens by my parents so they can pick it up. Here's one for my Lilybug! Turning 3 in one month.

InterWeb Cameras

 We just discovered this new high tech tool - called a "WebCam" for short.

People, this is going to be HUGE.
They're really fun, and can entertain a 4 yr old for literally minutes on end.

Courtney's Nightly Serenade

Just a quick note in case I forget about this someday...
Nearly every night after we put the babies to bed and close the door, it's not more than a few minutes until Bennett starts singing.
I mean REALLY SINGING!
Like belting out his tunes as if he's a MoTab. 
Right now, at this very moment, he's serenading Courtney (and maybe the whole neighborhood) with a very loud "EENSY WEENSY SPIIIIDERRR...."
He knows all the words, and is obviously proud of that. Other nights, he favors us with "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," and "I Am a Child of God," and the Barney song, "I Love You, You Love Me."
I really wish I could somehow get a video of this. It's amazing. It's the quirkiest behavior and makes me ridiculously happy. 
The funniest part is that we don't hear anything from Courtney, whose bed is just a few feet from his. So I can only assume she's laying there, listening to her twin brother screaming out songs from the depths of his little lungs, and wondering why in the world they had to be womb-mates.

Hombteachr

We have great home teachers. 
We like them so much we made our letter blocks into a greeting for them.

Too bad we didn't have all the right letters...

Flower Faces

Craft project of the month (cuz that's about how often I get around to doing one).

Watch your mailbox for a bouquet, Nonny!

Saturday morning adventures

Brian works most Saturdays, unfortunately, cuz that's my race day. There's always at least a couple going on near us (< 20 min drive). And I lovelovelove participating in them. So I have to decide: stay home and just go to the gym, hire a babysitter so I can go race solo, or put the kids in the stroller and race with them.

5K at Sugarhouse Park for the Heart Institute of Utah.  Bennett needs a haircut.  

 Lately the last option has been winning out most often. It takes a few minutes off my finishing time, but that's ok. I still get all the other great perks of participating in a road race: a killer workout, supporting some charitable cause, free food, nice happy people, occasional prizes, and another shirt to add to the stash, etc. Actually 4 shirts today- they wanted to give one to all my kids! They are the center of attention quite often at these races. I don't mean to make a spectacle of ourselves... But what can I do about it? Hire a babysitter? Stay home? Nope, we're all happiest this way!

Independent girl

It seems like every single day brings something new from Miss Courtney (ok, all 3 of them... but I feel like she should get her own post every now and then. Since Brianna has a gazillion).

Today - literally 3 minutes ago, since I'm sending this from the park - she started climbing some playground equipment she's never attempted, then proudly declaring, "I DOING! I DOING!!" Now she's on fire, scaling every metal ladder/contraption/trapeze in sight (on site?). Fortunately Brian is here (in dress shirt and tie, cuz he's a classy guy at the playground) to back me up and play spotter. So I can do important other things... Like blog from my phone. 
I perhaps would feel like a little despondent, like my little Courtney was growing up too fast... if she didn't come up to me just now and say - in a full clear sentence - "Ah wan milk time peas!" and plop herself into my lap. Brian made the innocently ignorant classic comment, "If she can ask for it that well, don't you think she's too old?" I sweetly retorted, "She can also ask for hugs and kisses now too."   :) 
Growing up fast, but not *too* fast.

Who DOESN'T love Farmer's Markets?!

You'll find us here every Thursday until all those pretty summer leaves are fallen and crusty.

I lovelovelove supporting local people selling stuff they've worked hard to make. 

Brian gets a little confused as he sees his wife, queen of penny pinchers, shelling out cash left and right gratuitiously.  But I feel good about it. And it makes the snap peas and cherries taste better.  

Hey Fashion Police: OVERALLS!

It's a good thing fashion rules don't really apply to toddlers.
I clearly remember wearing overalls in elementary school. Maybe junior high too. Pretty sure it was acceptable then.
If I saw an adult wearing overalls today, I'd look for where he parked his tractor.
But I think they're adorable on little kids.

Father's Day Interview

Kinda last minute, I sat Brianna down and got her to start talking about her dad. Her responses are pretty cute.  Not that I'm biased.   So on Father's Day morning, Brian opened the laptop to this short YouTube video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH9ArA39dJw&feature=youtu.be

Birthday Brian

Benevolent Brian gave me two choices for the celebration of his 30th year of life: a road trip to CA for beach time, or a big ol' party here with all our friends. Anyone who knows me knows the choice was easy. Sit in the car for 20 hours?! I'd rather be a bug headed for the windshield. Plan a big party? BORN to do that! (thanks Mom!) I had to keep it somewhat simple, considering my 3 limitations (B, C, and B) and the limitations of most of our guests (sand volleyball and laser tag games don't work well when you're tripping over toddlers). But I still felt like I put on a good fiesta for old man B.

Brian insisted that we have "Brian Food."  Meaning: nothing really fancy or expensive.  Costco pizza and cake. That's it. I managed to sneak in some fruit and salads, but Brian was set on his mass produced crap.  Though actually - Costco really does a decent job on those two staples.

We rented a cotton candy machine! So fun to swirl it around yourself! Did you know they're made from Jolly Ranchers?! That's it! The machine melts ONE jolly rancher and turns it into a big cotton candy ball! Totally buying one of these.
AND we rented a FROZEN YOGURT machine! The flavor was LIME, and it was a huge hit. Everyone liked making little ice cream cones for themselves. Totally worth the splurge.

We had some games and contests for aaaweesommee (dollar store) prizes. A COOKIE-STACKING contest (architect Steve won with like 23, I think.) Here, little cousin (second cousin?) SMITH is taking his turn. Yeah, his FIRST name is Smith! So cool.

I love our friends!! We have such awesome friends, we really do. The Housleys, Tanners, Kovach-Kerbs.... I'm so happy my kids have great options for families we'll allow them to marry into.
Also in attendance:  a few of Brian's work buddies, and extended family! My local cousins: Thornocks, Alleys, Parker.  Grandma Smith. Brian's uncle Boyd came all the way from Park City, and his sister Ashley WINS the travel award - all the way from Spanish Fork, with 3 little kids, including a brand new baby!   Seriously, it means a lot that so many people came for Brian's party!

Another contest! Can YOU guess the right answers?! (good for you if you can - I got quite a few wrong!! Brian's not as predictable as I predicted.)

Crumby

I took out the babies' carseats - including the bases - for the first time literally ever. We've vacuumed around them many times, but they're latched in so tight I knew it'd be a pain to get them totally out and in. Not worth it just to get those last few unreachable crumbs out.
But today I have a little more respect for those clean-nazi parents who forbid children eating in their cars. While I'll never adopt such a rule (because enforcing it would have consequences much more unpleasant than frequent deep cleaning), I wouldn't mind NOT having discovered a huge pile of crumbs large enough to feed a flock of pigeons. It was pretty gross. This picture was just one captain seat- the other was actually a little worse.
To think, all this time I've been awkwardly handing snacks back to the kids while trying to drive safe, I've thought they were actually eating. But no, they were squirreling bits away.

blue bennett

Just playing around with tinting and collaging.
Made a quick 4x6 to print and mail off as a postcard.

I could do this all day!

And still probably not be very good at it.
 
But definitely enjoying myself!

Summer at Grandma's

I remember as a kid LOVING our summer trips to Oregon to visit my dad's parents. I loved their home - especially their yard. Always so beautiful and so fun. The ideal place for kids to run around exploring, snacking on garden goodies, daring each other to get near the scary mulch pile.
Now my Grandma lives alone here in Bountiful, and still maintains a small beautiful yard and garden. I'm glad we live near her, and glad it's summer, so it's easy to ride my bike over with the kids in the bike trailer. We have to get our visits in before 8pm, or Grandma's gone to bed! On this visit, we chewed on tasty mint leaves and took home fresh parsley. Brianna loved the roses! I can't wait til we get to move and have a home with a yard. Though I doubt it'll ever be as beautiful as Grandma's!

Selfish Swim Time



Some parents take their children to the pool just for fun. To be nice parents.
We take them to the pool when they've napped too late, to wear them out so they'll go to bed at a reasonable time.

4yr old pampering

  Brianna often insists on taking her bath without the babies  (or just with Courtney and not Bennett. Poor Bennett - she's already started the "no boys allowed! club).  Though they will usually manage to find her at least halfway through her relaxation time and try to get in on the fun.
Brianna wants to be alone so she can have the faucet to herself. She loves letting the warm water run down her back for as long as I'll let the water run.   She told me, "it's like a water massage!"
Doesn't a water massage sound nice right now?!